Heading down the Canada made amp rabbit hole...

[Bass Butcher]

I've had a bunch of Traynors; YGMs, YSRs, YBAs, YRMs. I would sell them off here and there since it always seemed I could get another. I have a '74 YRM1 arriving tomorrow. Great amps, loud, stout, versatile, reliable. 300 bucks...they're still out there.

I'm jealous, I have seller's regret on my YRM-1. Almost bought another 410 combo version but I'd much rather have the head again. I can rebuy the modern 15/50w YCS50 back from the guy I sold it to atm, but that one also comes in a head version and I'd rather have the head.

 

[Wooly Fox]

That reminds me...

Is there anything built like the Herzog on the market now? A Champ preamp in a pedal form?

I know there are preamp pedals, even tube preamp pedals from the likes of Kingsley but I haven't seen a Herzog clone or a pedal sized one beyond a few forum posts on people asking how to build one.

I found the schematic but I imagine it's not hard to build if you know what you're doing. I would make one if I had the skill...

 

[Bass Butcher]

Gar Gillies started as a radio repairman and did the alignment on a coup

The YRM1 is based in the BF reverb AB763 world….input gain stage>tone
stack>second gain stage>effects insertion>third gain stage?
The YBA1 has an input stage followed by the second gain stage followed by third gain stage followed by a cathode follower driving the tone stack. This is the class preamp format in the 5F6A Bassman and 5F8A Twin Fenders…..that Jim Marshall copied.

Context, "Many guitarists had maintained that if Yorkville could produce an amp which sounded like the YBA-1 but offered reverb, tremolo and a master volume control, it would be a winner. In the Spring of 1972, Dirk Vandersleen (again) was called upon to design such an amp."

 

[Wally]

Context, "Many guitarists had maintained that if Yorkville could produce an amp which sounded like the YBA-1 but offered reverb, tremolo and a master volume control, it would be a winner. In the Spring of 1972, Dirk Vandersleen (again) was called upon to design such an amp."

however, the preamps are very different. The schematics tell the tale.
the YR has a BF Fender reverb topology….gain stage>tone stack>2 gain stages. That third gain stage makes up somehwat for the loss of gain due to the effects. The YBA-1 has the same topology as the 5F6A Bassman…2 gain stages followed by a cathode follower driving a tone stack. The results are very different. If this were not so, then the YBA-1 and the Marshall clones of the 5F6A would sound like BF Fenders. (;^)

https://schematicheaven.net/bargainbin/traynor_bassmaster_mkii_yba1.pdf

https://schematicheaven.net/bargainbin/traynor_reverbmaster_yrm1.pdf

Also, if these two topologies did not sound so different from each other, Leo Fender would simply have kept on building big tweeds.

 

[5595bassman]

Context, "Many guitarists had maintained that if Yorkville could produce an amp which sounded like the YBA-1 but offered reverb, tremolo and a master volume control, it would be a winner. In the Spring of 1972, Dirk Vandersleen (again) was called upon to design such an amp."

I have a 1971 YRS-1 ( lower right on pic ) which, imo, meets those requirements but without the master volume.
I also have an early YBA-1 ( top right ) with 7027 power tubes and a few more Traynor models.

Heads : YBA-1A ( lower left ), YBA-2A ( top left ), YBA-2 ( rehoused, originally a 1966 cube combo )

Combos : 3 X YGM-3, YBA-2B

Cabs : 2 x YS-15, YS-15P, YT-12, YF-10, 2 x YB-18, 2 x CS-115H.

 

[ScatteredSeeds]

Love Garnet and Traynor amps. Had the pleasure of having Gar Gilles (Garnet founder) make me an amp in the 90s totally out of NOS 60s and 70s parts. His passing was a great loss to our community. He was an approachable and knowledgeable man and helped out more than a few down on their luck musicians in Winnipeg. A true legend.

 

[Bass Butcher]

I have a 1971 YRS-1 ( lower right on pic ) which, imo, meets those requirements but without the master volume.
I also have an early YBA-1 ( top right ) with 7027 power tubes and a few more Traynor models.

Heads : YBA-1A ( lower left ), YBA-2A ( top left ), YBA-2 ( rehoused, originally a 1966 cube combo ) View attachment 1072117
View attachment 1072118
View attachment 1072119

Combos : 3 X YGM-3, YBA-2B
View attachment 1072120
View attachment 1072121

Cabs : 2 x YS-15, YS-15P, YT-12, YF-10, 2 x YB-18, 2 x CS-115H.

Nice collection! I just recently got a bumper trim YT-12 cabinet to use as an ext cab for my YGM-3 for now. I really want another YRM-1 head but wouldn't say no to one of the earlier guitar heads.
The YSR-1 was what Elvis decided to use when he got his International Hotel, Vegas residency in 1969. Yorkville had to insert one into their production line for a different model as the amp was completely sold out. The YSR-1 would def be closer to a YBA-1 than the YRM-1.

 

[Wally]

The YSR-1 would def be closer to a YBA-1 than the YRM-1.

The YSR-1 differs from both the YBA-1 and the YRM-1…..three different approaches, imho.
The YSR-1 does have two gain stages followed by a tone stack. There is no cathode follower in front of the tone stack, and the tone stack appears to me to be a Baxandall type of circuit, which acts differently than do the stacks in the other two amps.…regardless of position in the circuit.

 

[Bass Butcher]

The YSR-1 differs from both the YBA-1 and the YRM-1…..three different approaches, imho.
The YSR-1 does have two gain stages followed by a tone stack. There is no cathode follower in front of the tone stack, and the tone stack appears to me to be a Baxandall type of circuit, which acts differently than do the stacks in the other two amps.…regardless of position in the circuit.

My YGM-3 is also Baxandall, Definitely a bit 'different' acting. You certainly know your stuff on the different circuit architectures. One of the reasons I decided to try out the YSC-50 model was to check out the 'American' vs 'British' tone stack position switch Traynor likes to incorporate into their tube amps now.

 

[Tone Chase]

I still have my 1976 Traynor YGM3. It’s well serviced, and every speaker that I try in the combo cab makes the amp sound unique. The cab, for its larger size, is solid. I still play this one on occasion. It is a really good at home amp, that can easily gig with a nice selection of pedals. It is truly amazing what the simple volume, bass and treble knob can do on this amp. If I ever come across a head cab for this amp, it would get even more play time.

On the bottom is my 1978 Garnet Session Man. Still fairly mint, and all original. I am certain it still has the original tubes in it. The iron in this one is HUGE. This is another combo amp that I would prefer to convert into a head cab.

Both are solid performers. I may make my own head cabs for them someday, in show biz white.

 

[Festofish]

Hotrod deluxe? It’s not Canadian but there’s a million of them so who knows. I use it clean with the dirt going in front and mods in the loop…ish.

 

[screefer]

Any info on this garnet Session Man?
1973 outlets were 117 volts.

1973 Garnet Session Man Amp - musical instruments - by owner

1973 Garnet "The Session Man" tube amp. Made in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. 50 Watts. Handwired. 2 channels. Reverb and Tremolo.

nanaimo.craigslist.org

 

[Wooly Fox]

Any info on this garnet Session Man?
1973 outlets were 117 volts.

1973 Garnet Session Man Amp - musical instruments - by owner

1973 Garnet "The Session Man" tube amp. Made in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. 50 Watts. Handwired. 2 channels. Reverb and Tremolo.

nanaimo.craigslist.org

I was tempted by this but too loud for my purposes!

 

[Tone Chase]

I was tempted by this but too loud for my purposes!

I don’t understand this statement. The situation is just like just about any large, full sounding amp. They sound good, if not great at any volume.

There is a greater disadvantage to traditional small amps in my opinion. They sound better cranked, or dimed, but controlled by the guitar volume knob.

I own a Session Man, and at least 50 others amps.

 

[Dan German]

Any info on this garnet Session Man?
1973 outlets were 117 volts.

1973 Garnet Session Man Amp - musical instruments - by owner

1973 Garnet "The Session Man" tube amp. Made in Winnipeg Manitoba Canada. 50 Watts. Handwired. 2 channels. Reverb and Tremolo.

nanaimo.craigslist.org

Don’t be showing me amps in my neighbourhood that I don’t need and can’t afford. Are you trying to make my neighbours hate me?

 

[burtonfan]

My first amp was a 1970's Traynor. It was a fantastic amp and I still miss it to this day. I'm also a fan and owner of several Radial Engineering products. Canadian products are top quality and always welcome in my arsenal.

 

[Wooly Fox]

Took my Garnet Lil' Rock to my first band practice in 8 years this evening. It was definitely loud enough to overcome acoustic drums and electric bass! Didn't need to turn the gain past noon to be be heard over the kit.

Also pairs really nicely with my JBL D120F, bright enough to cut but dark enough not to be shrill or ice picky on my Gibson Johnny A.

These Garnets should be more widely known outside of Canada, they do so much with so little!

 

[Tony65x55]

I am a huge Traynor amp fan and my collection includes a YSR, a YRM, 2 YBA-1 (both 1968) a YGM-1, YGM-2, YGM-3, YGM, 4 and a re-issue (superb) YGM-3 and 6 YBA-2 Bassmates. All are amazing but my desert island amps are truly the YBA-1 Bass Masters.

I simply have never heard an amp as good as the YBA-1. Don't hesitate. These amps sound wonderful and are built like tanks.

For modern Traynor amps the YGM-3 reissue sounds like the real thing. It should, the circuit is identical. The YGL-2 is an excellent 30w full-featured combo that sounds as good as anything else on the market.

 

[gabasa]

I am a huge Traynor amp fan and my collection includes a YSR, a YRM, 2 YBA-1 (both 1968) a YGM-1, YGM-2, YGM-3, YGM, 4 and a re-issue (superb) YGM-3 and 6 YBA-2 Bassmates. All are amazing but my desert island amps are truly the YBA-1 Bass Masters.

I simply have never heard an amp as good as the YBA-1. Don't hesitate. These amps sound wonderful and are built like tanks.

For modern Traynor amps the YGM-3 reissue sounds like the real thing. It should, the circuit is identical. The YGL-2 is an excellent 30w full-featured combo that sounds as good as anything else on the market.

The really old YBA-1 amps with the BT1 power transformers and BT2 output transformers were very special sounding amps.

Any YBA-1 with a choke is an amp worth having in the collection. At one point they got rid of the 10k/8uf filtering stage in the preamp and it’s important to add them back in because it affected the sound negatively.

Great amps.

 

[northernguitar]

My first amp was a 1970's Traynor. It was a fantastic amp and I still miss it to this day. I'm also a fan and owner of several Radial Engineering products. Canadian products are top quality and always welcome in my arsenal.

I’d add Godin to that list!